By Tom Marshall

El Tri might be set for its fourth coach in just over a month as the America boss could take charge for the playoff against New Zealand.

Club America coach Miguel Herrera is set to replace Victor Manuel Vucetich as Mexico manager, according to various reports in the Mexican press.

Goal Mexico, ESPNDeportes and Record report the change as being very close and suggest that an announcement will be made shortly, although there has not been official confirmation from the Mexican federation.

Herrera himself spoke to TelevisaDeportes on Thursday and denied that a definite decision had been made on whether he will be leaving Club America, but added that he would “wait until tomorrow (Friday) to see what the FMF decide,” implying that a decision is pending.

“El Piojo” also told the same network that he would have no problem betting on Mexico making the World Cup and would do so “eyes shut.”

Former Monterrey coach Vucetich only took charge on Sept. 12 and guided the team to a 2-1 victory over Panama and a 2-1 loss on Tuesday against Costa Rica, which scraped El Tri into fourth spot thanks to the late U.S. comeback in Panama.

Herrera guided Las Aguilas to last season’s Clausura title and his team is sitting on top of the Liga MX at present.

It is widely thought that if he does take over, Herrera will use the Club America squad as the base of the national team and the likelihood is that he will implement a 5-3-2 system similar to that which he plays with the league leader.

Herrera would be the fourth person to coach Mexico in the Brazil 2014 cycle, following on from Jose Manuel “Chepo” de la Torre, Luis Fernando Tena and Vucetich.